The UCF Knights Women’s Tennis team is returning from a spring 2023 marred by injury and its first sub-.500 season since 2014.
Armed with a healthier squad and a head coach sporting a new title, the Knights will have their chance at redemption right off the bat before taking on their new Big 12 conference mates.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Knights as they start their 2024 season:
How Dual-Match Tennis Works
The dual match begins with Doubles Play, in which there are three matches played between a pair of players from each team. Whichever school wins 2 out of the 3 Doubles matches gets 1 point.
After Doubles Play, six Singles Play matches are played between members of each school worth 1 point each.
The school with the most points after all the matches are played is the victor. However, it is not uncommon that the dual-match will end early once one team gets 4 points since it becomes mathematically impossible for the other team to come back.
(11-12, 1-1 AAC), Lost AAC Tournament Final, Lost in 1st Round of NCAA Tournament to Georgia Tech
Our 2023 season has come to a close.
Knight Nation, thank you for all of your support this season. We will see you next year for some @Big12Conference tennis.
— UCF Women’s Tennis (@UCF_WTennis) May 5, 2023
Despite injuries hampering the team late in the season, the Knights rallied in the AAC Tournament to win enough matches to finish with a .500 record, allowing them to be selected for a fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. They were then sent packing by Georgia Tech, 4-1 in the first round.
Picked 4th in Big 12 Preseason Coaches Poll
A healthier Knights squad takes on the Big 12 Conference for the first time while also seeking a sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament bid. Those consistent postseason appearances have earned the program some goodwill amongst Big 12 coaches, as they were picked to finish fourth in their debut season. That said, among the Top 5 teams, they are the only ones to not have a first-place vote. Even fifth-ranked Baylor got one.
While UCF will be in search of a new Court No. 1 player and lose another player who provided consistent wins, it will be getting back three players who missed a large portion of last season due to injury.
Bryan Koniecko – 8th season at UCF (1st as Director of Tennis)
Entering his eighth season leading the women’s tennis team, three-time AAC Coach of the Year Bryan Koniecko now brings with him a new title: Director of Tennis.
Upon this season’s completion, Koniecko will tie Patricia Allison and Stephanie Nickitas for the longest-serving head coach in program history.
He is also on the hunt for the most wins by a head coach in program history. He sits 18 wins back from Gail Falkenberg, who coached the team for seven seasons from 1991-1998.
Bryan Koniecko’s Coaching Record
| Year | Overall | Conference | AAC Tournament | NCAA Team Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Overall | Conference | AAC Tournament | NCAA Team Tournament |
| 2017 | 13-9 | 0-4 | Lost in Quarterfinals (Tulsa) | – |
| 2018 | 20-5 | 5-1 | Lost in Quarterfinals (SMU) | Lost 2nd Round (Miami (FL)) |
| 2019 | 24-4 | 6-0 | Won AAC Tournament | Lost Sweet 16 (Pepperdine) |
| 2020 | 10-3 | 2-0 | No Tournament (COVID) | – |
| 2021 | 20-5 | 3-0 | Won AAC Tournament | Lost Sweet 16 (Duke) |
| 2022 | 16-8 | 3-0 | Lost in Quarterfinals (USF) | Lost 2nd Round (Miami (FL)) |
| 2023 | 11-12 | 1-1 | Lost in Final (SMU) | Lost 1st Round (Georgia Tech) |
| Total | 114-46 | 20-6 | 2 Titles | 5 Appearences |
Watch Bryson Turner’s preview video with Coach Koniecko here:
Sophia Biolay
Qualis ➡️ The Champ
Congrats to Sophia for becoming the first active player in program history to bring home a pro singles title ‼️ pic.twitter.com/KPgLs5Nk7G
— UCF Women’s Tennis (@UCF_WTennis) October 1, 2023
Of the returners on the Knights’ squad, Frenchwoman Sophia Biolay led the way in both singles and doubles play wins last season. She is also coming off a fall in which she won the Singles Play title at the DVDM Shipyard Cup in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and the Doubles Play title at the Fighting Illini Open in Champaign, Illinois.
Stefani Webb
While injury limited Webb’s playing time in 2023, she is coming off a fall in which she won the singles and doubles title at the Fighting Illini Open in Champaign, Illinois.
Marie Mattel
Marie Mattel stepped up to be the Knights’ on-court leader in Court No. 1 in 2023. She finished her UCF career with a a pair of NCAA Singles Championship appearances to her name, as well as the second-most doubles wins (75) and the second-most combined wins (150) in program history.
Nandini Sharma
Nandini Sharma was a beacon of consistency for the Knights, as while she was never playing on the upper courts, she consistently turned in victories in the lower courts, mainly on Court No. 6. She finished her UCF career with the third-most singles play wins (81), third-highest combined winning percentage (.705) and the fourth-most combined wins (141) in program history.
Olivia Lincer
Add it to the trophy case
Olivia and partner Anna Hertel are co-champions of the W25 Santa Domingo, our second doubles champion in as many weeks pic.twitter.com/1X6h0TaZJw
— UCF Women’s Tennis (@UCF_WTennis) November 15, 2023
Hailing from Poland, Olivia Lincer made a splash in the fall by winning a doubles title in an ITF Tournament in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic alongside a fellow Pole.
- 3 Freshman
- 2 Sophomores
- 3 Juniors
- 1 Senior
- 3 Floridians
- 6 International Players (France, Bulgaria, Russia, Poland, Germany, and Australia)
2024 UCF Women’s Tennis Roster
| Name | Year | Hometown | 2023 School | Spring 2023 Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Year | Hometown | 2023 School | Spring 2023 Stats |
| Sophia Biolay | Junior | Reims, France | UCF | Singles: 10-8, Doubles: 9-9 |
| Anique Kattenberg | R-Junior | Satelite Beach, FL | UCF | Single: 6-1, Doubles: 4-3 |
| Jaleesa Leslie | Senior | Apopka, FL | UCF | Singles: 4-5, Doubles: 4-4 |
| Grace Levelston | R-Freshman | Vero Beach, FL | UCF | Did not play |
| Olivia Lincer | Freshman | Klodzko, Poland | Edgenuity | N/A |
| Noel Saidenova | Junior | St. Petersburg, Russia | UCF | Singles: 5-9, Doubles: 7-8 |
| Jantje Tilbuerger | Sophomore | Ganderkesee, Germany | UCF | Singles: 2-7, Doubles: 4-7 |
| Mihaela Tsoneva | Freshman | Gabrovo, Bulgaria | Raicho Karolev | N/A |
| Stefani Webb | Sophomore | Melbourne, Austrailia | UCF | Singles: 4-6, Doubles: 5-4 |
The Knights will have a chance to avenge their NCAA Tournament matchup right away, as they will start this season by hosting Georgia Tech. It is the beginning of a grueling non-conference schedule with four matchups against Preseason Top 25 teams (#18 Tennessee, #20 Georgia Tech, #21 Miami (FL) and #23 Wisconsin). Additionally, the team will also get a chance to play against #13 Oklahoma and potentially #19 California for ITA Kickoff Weekend as well.
UCF will never spend more than three consecutive matches at home.
As for conference play, while the Knights will play their three Preseason Top 25 opponents (#6 Oklahoma State, #7 Texas and #13 Oklahoma) at home, six of the Big 12’s programs made the NCAA Tournament in 2023. It’s also bookended by a tough two pairs of away matches. It starts with NCAA 2nd-round team Baylor and NIT Champion TCU in March and ends with a trip to NCAA Quarterfinalist Iowa State and NCAA 2nd-round team Kansas.
2024 UCF Women’s Tennis Schedule
| Day | Date | H/A | Time | Opponent | Preseason ITA Ranking | UCF’s Results LY | 2023 record | Last Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | Date | H/A | Time | Opponent | Preseason ITA Ranking | UCF’s Results LY | 2023 record | Last Season |
| Saturday | Jan. 20 | Home | 11 a.m. | Georgia Tech | 20 | 2 Losses, 4-3 and 4-1 | 16-10 | Lost in NCAA 2nd Round to Florida |
| Friday | Jan. 26 | Away | TBA | Oklahoma | 13 | – | 22-10 | Lost in NCAA Super Regional to Georgia |
| Saturday | Jan. 27 | Neutral | TBA | Cal or Illinois | 19 or N/A | – | 12-10 OR 18-10 | Lost in NCAA 1st Round to San Diego OR Florida State |
| Friday | Feb. 2 | Away | TBA | Florida International | – | Win, 4-2 | 18-5 | Lost in NCAA 1st Round to Auburn |
| Sunday | Feb. 4 | Away | 12 p.m. | Miami (FL) | 21 | Loss, 4-0 | 16-8 | Lost in NCAA 2nd Round to Auburn |
| Friday | Feb. 16 | Home | 6 p.m. | Tennessee | 18 | Loss, 4-3 | 21-6 | Lost in NCAA Super Regional to Texas A&M |
| Sunday | Feb. 18 | Home | 11 a.m. | Wisconsin | 23 | – | 20-7 | Lost in NCAA 2nd Round to Iowa State |
| Sunday | Feb. 25 | Home | 12 p.m. | North Florida | – | – | 18-7 | Lost in NCAA 1st Round to Florida |
| Sunday | Feb. 25 | Home | 4:30 p.m. | Bethune-Cookman | – | Win, 4-0 | 1-15 | N/A |
| Friday | Mar. 8 | Away | 6 p.m. | Baylor | – | – | 17-14 | Lost in NCAA 2nd Round to Texas A&M |
| Sunday | Mar. 10 | Away | 1 p.m. | TCU | – | Win, 4-0 | 16-9 | Won Inaugural NIT Championship |
| Friday | Mar. 15 | Home | 6 p.m. | Oklahoma | 13 | – | 22-10 | Lost in NCAA Super Regional to Georgia |
| Sunday | Mar. 17 | Home | 12 p.m. | Texas | 7 | – | 24-5 | Lost in NCAA Quarterfinal to North Carolina |
| Friday | Mar. 22 | Away | 1 p.m. | Cincinnati | – | – | 8-14 | Lost in AAC Tournament 1st Round to Memphis |
| Sunday | Mar. 24 | Away | 12 p.m. | West Virginia | – | – | 11-12 | Lost in Big 12 Tournament 1st Round to TCU |
| Saturday | Mar. 30 | Away | 2 p.m. | Houston | – | Win, 4-0 | 14-9 | Lost in AAC Tournament Quarterfinals to UCF |
| Friday | Apr. 5 | Home | 6 p.m. | Kansas State | – | – | 2-20 | Lost in Big 12 Tournament 1st Round to Baylor |
| Sunday | Apr. 7 | Home | 12 p.m. | Oklahoma State | 6 | – | 16-8 | Lost in NCAA 2nd Round to Stanford |
| Friday | Apr. 12 | Away | 5 p.m. | Iowa State | – | – | 21-6 | Lost in NCAA Quarterfinals to NC State |
| Sunday | Apr. 14 | Away | 1 p.m. | Kansas | – | – | 15-8 | Lost in NCAA 2nd Round to NC State |
Big 12 Conference Tournament:
- Hosted by Oklahoma State at Greenwood Tennis Center
- Dates: April 17-20
UCF had consecutive losing seasons: 1981-1992. A credit to the program’s ability to rebound, the Knights have never had consecutive seasons with a losing record since the program’s early days in the 80s and early 90s. From the program’s inception in 1978 to 1992, it had just one season above .500 and 13 below. Since 1992, the Knights have had 27 seasons above .500, with only four below, all non-consecutive (2002, 2012, 2014 and 2023).
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